Solid sexual to the first in the series with a cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to read the next installment!

This was so cute and fun! Loved the first book and the sequel was even better. The MFC is so relatable and her inner monologue is so hilarious! I did not even guess currently who the murderer actually was (spoilers ~ your jaw will drop!). I cannot wait for book 3!

I absolutely loved this book! it had a little bit of everything which I loved. romance, mystery, humor, ect. loved the narration, it had me laughing out loud! the Audiobook is actually quite unique and I think it elevated the story!

Well if you’re in the mood for a ridiculous, quirky murder mystery then this is right up your alley! This is the second book in the Vacation Mystery series that follows the same main characters as they find themselves wrapped up in another murder.

I did not read the first book and that’s ok! They can be read as standalones and you won’t be missing anything. From my understanding their framework is very similar so if you liked the first one, this one is sure to delight you.

I consumed the audiobook and narrator Elizabeth Evans did a fine job with her recitation. She had to take several characters with she did with ease, switching between different voices for each. For me and my comfort level I needed to speed up the playback rate for casual listening but also then was able to speed it to 2x and still be able to understand the dictation clearly.

This title comes out on May 13 2025 so if you’re in the mood for a numerous, off the wall murder mystery then get this on your TBR.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Macmillan Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

This is the second book in the Vacation Mysteries series. I never read the first book but I feel like it was referenced enough that reading it first would be helpful but not necessary. I liked this book. I like that there was a comedic spin out on the mystery. The only thing I didn’t care for was the FMC breaking the fourth wall. But, to each their own. I still liked it and I would still recommend it.
⬇️see description⬇️

Eleanor Dash cannot go on vacation without having to solve a mystery. Her book is getting turned into a movie, but mostly life has been calm since her last adventure in Italy. Now her best friend (and star of the movie) is getting married, and threatening notes start rolling in, as does a tropical storm. Now the cast and crew, photographers from People magazine, and a murderer are trapped on Catalina island.

Lovely cozy mystery, and the direct to reader elements add plenty of humor. Overall felt very cinematic and very cohesive with the first book. The audiobook is well produced. I was very impressed by how the narrator included the footnotes and handled breaking the fourth wall.

4/5 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I love these characters so much! It was so fun jumping back into the chaos! Elizabeth Evans is my favorite narrator!

Description
Attending your best friend’s wedding should be a piece of (wedding) cake, but not for Eleanor Dash, bestselling author of the Vacation Mysteries series. Because murder seems to follow her every time she goes on vacation and is definitely her uninvited plus-one to the special occasion.
Emma Wood, Eleanor’s best friend since childhood, is starring in the movie adaptation of When in Rome, Eleanor’s first novel. Emma is also marrying Fred Winters, a major movie star and Emma’s co-star, who just happens to be playing Connor Smith, Eleanor’s ex and leading man of the series.
Filming wraps and they invite the whole cast and crew to their wedding at nearby Catalina Island. There may be a storm headed their way—because of course there is—but nothing will stop their nuptials . . . that is until Emma receives a note that says “Someone is going to die at the wedding.”
Eleanor is a professional at this point, and she’ll do everything she can to uncover the murderer so true love can prevail . . . before it’s too late for her and the rest of the storm-trapped wedding party.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book!

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding
A Novel
by Catherine Mack
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
Pub Date May 13 2025
Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies was one of my favorite cozy mysteries last year, and I was excited to see that all of my favorite characters would be back in this newest book. Eleanor's book When in Rome is being adapted into a movie with her best friend, Emma, playing the starring role. Emma is marrying Fred Winters, Emma's co-star in the film. The cast and crew are heading to Catalina Island for the big day. But as a big storm makes its way to the island, Emma starts to receive threatening notes that say, "Someone will die at this wedding." Can Eleanor find who is behind the threats before the couple says I Do?

This series always makes me laugh. I know that is weird to say about murder, but the breaking of the fourth wall and footnotes are always comedic. Although I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one, I still thought this was a great cozy mystery and I was kept guessing till the very end. The conclusion does set up the next book in the series and I am excited to see what is next for Eleanor.

Just like book one, I would highly recommend the audiobook. Elizabeth Evan is the narrator for both books and does a fantastic job for all of the characters. I also found it easier to follow along with the footnotes than the e-book.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding is out May 13th.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for giving me access to the early digital and audio versions of this new book! I absolutely loved Mack’s first Vacation mystery and this one did not disappoint! I absolutely love Eleanor and her “breaking of the fourth wall” to talk to the reader! It’s brilliant in both formats—footnotes and the side talk presentation of them in audio. This mystery had an amazing cast of characters, a story that just didn’t quit, red herrings and twists and turns. I didn’t want it to end! Seriously so fun! Don’t miss this new book!

This is the sequel I have been waiting for. You would think going to your friend’s wedding would be fine no worries.. however, when there is a murder literally at the reception, Eleanor goes into investigation mode. Eleanor is one of my favorite characters.. She is funny.. and keeps you guessing because her life never goes according to plan. This was everything I love about the first book and a great continuation of the story.

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack is a clever, fast-paced romp filled with murder, mayhem, and just the right dash of Hollywood drama—and Elizabeth Evans brings every moment to life with pitch-perfect narration. Honestly, everything Evans narrates is golden, and she delivers Eleanor Dash’s dry humor, chaotic charm, and emotional beats with effortless flair. From stormy Catalina Island to star-studded wedding chaos, the plot twists and turns with sharp wit and a cozy mystery heart, and the Taylor Swift references sprinkled throughout? Absolutely iconic. This is a must-listen for fans of snarky sleuths, dramatic destination weddings, and audiobooks that feel like a front-row seat to your favorite true crime–meets–rom-com mashup.

Title: No One Was Supposed to Die at this Wedding
Author: Catherine Mack
Series: The Vacation Mysteries #2
Publisher: Macmillan Audio-Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
My Rating: 2.3 Stars!
Pages 352

Eleanor Dash is back, and if you thought her first adventure was wild, buckle up. She's heading to her best friend Emma's wedding on Catalina Island - you know, just a nice, peaceful destination wedding with a movie star groom.

I live in Southern California and have been to Catalina Island several times. So was drawn to this story.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t anything like I suspected- I had listened to the audiobook of "“Every time I go On Vacation Someone Dies” which was Book #1 in the series. -True not as Hilarious as the blurb described but fun and I thought this one would be fun as well. I
Plus I mistakenly thought it was going to be a cozy mystery - it wasn’t!
The Book cover was cute - but I found the characters in this story unlikeable. So disappointed.😪

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio- Minotaur Books for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 13, 2025.

I LOVED the first book in this series. It was one of those rare finds in my favorite cross-genre (humorous mystery/thriller). So I was SO HAPPY when the end of the book eluded to a sequel. Well, it turns out I may have set my hopes too high.

The second book begins a few days after the last book ends. We have the same fun characters from the first book (Eleanor, Oliver, Harper, Emma, Connor) plus a few more.

The plot was okay but I found the writing was not as tight as the first book. The author relied a lot on “breaking down the fourth wall” and addressing the reader directly. Maybe this was supposed to be trite and cute but I found it made the writing very sloppy. There was way too much reliance on cliches throughout the novel. A few would be okay but after that, it felt like the author wasn’t even trying anymore.

I tried the ebook at first but found it confusing to consistently flip to the end of the chapter to read the footnotes, then try and remember where I left off. About halfway through I switched to the audiobook and this made the footnotes a lot easier to navigate (they are noted on their proper place in the story as opposed to the end of each chapter). Also I want to add that I really liked the audiobook narrator (I love a good Italian accent!)

The introduction of new characters and their back stories make the plot way too confusing. I had to keep going back and re-listen to parts to make sure I was following the story correctly.

I rated this novel a 3 out of 5 stars (I would have given the first novel 5 stars). I will read the next book in the series as I hope that this novel is just a one-off and not an indication that the quality of the novels are going down as the series continues (like the Finlay Donovan series did). Or maybe I should set the bar a little lower and recognize these books as cozy mysteries as opposed to intense (yet funny) mystery/thriller novels.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an ARC of this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the #gifted copy of this book.

Summary: In book #2 of this series, Eleanor Dash hopes just to enjoy being a guest at her best friend's wedding. But luck is never on her side as it seems she needs to become a detective to solve a murder...again. To make matters worse, there is a huge storm headed right for Catalina Island, where the wedding is taking place. Battling a storm and rushing to figure out the mystery, Eleanor must team up with Oliver to follow the clues and catch a killer.

My Thoughts: I just love this series. Eleanor is so funny as she takes us through the events at the wedding on the island. I love how all of the characters were back from the first book and how they meshed well with the new players on the board. As always, this book had me all over the place with my theories. I'm happy to say a few of mine were correct, but some parts just shocked me! I love that the relationship between Eleanor and her sister Harper continues to grow, despite their setup as assistant and writer. And of course, I was ecstatic that Oliver was back to help El walk through all the details together.
🎧The audio for this series is so well done, and I'm glad I was able to listen to this story. Elizabeth Evans is a favorite narrator of mine, and she did another fantastic job. I highly suggest listening to this one!!

Read if you love:
🔍Mystery
🏝️Island Locations
💍Wedding Events
🎢Twists and Turns
😂 Laugh-out-loud dialogue

Man I haven’t read a cozy mystery in awhile and was not disappointed. This was just a fun read and loved all the twists and turns. And this was such a funny and unique writing style. Breaking the fourth wall was such a cool thing to experience in a book and loved every second of it. I think for me when I read books like this I go in knowing these type of books don’t take themselves so seriously and I’m not mad at that. If you like a who dunnit this book is for you! Also did a great job recapping book one so you essentially could read this without having read the first book prior. Would love you continue this series in this world because the characters seem like a lot of fun and want to see where things go. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me a charge to read this early.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Minotaur Books, and Catherine Mack for the advanced copy!

I absolutely loved 'Everytime I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies' (Book #1) and was really excited to read Book #2, 'No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding.' It is just as good! This series is fun, cozy, fast-paced, and filled with hilarious sarcasm. I love the footnotes, and I think Catherine Mack nails the whole breaking the fourth wall thing. Elizabeth Evans does such a great job narrating! If you haven't checked out 'Everytime I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies' (Book #1), you might want to read that first. This series is perfect for your next vacation or a day at the beach! I can't wait for Book #3!

Eleanor Dash is back in No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding.

"Eleanor's best frien since childhood, Emma, is starring in a movie based on Eleanor's first book, When In Rome. After filming wraps everyone travels to Catalina Island for the wedding of Emma and Fred, her costar. Everything is going great until Emma gets a note - "Somebody is going to die at this wedding" And oh yeah - a hurricance is headed their way. Eleanor will do everything she can to uncover the murderer so true love can prevail."

The voice of Eleanor makes this a fun book. Her sarcasm and sense of humor keep you chuckling all the way through. She continually breaks the Fourth Wall so it feels like you're having a conversation with her the whole time and that you're there with her every time she stumbles over a body. There's still the tension between Eleanor and Connor and Ollie - not really a love triangle but enough sparks flying to make you wonder. Lots of red herrings and misdirection. The hurricane gives it the feel of a locked-room mystery. Big surprise at the end - didn't see that coming.

Elizabeth Evans is wonderful as the narrator. This is one of those times where you can see the character because the narration is so good. And Evans has just the right amount of snark.

Fans of cozy mysteries and destination weddings will love this.

No One Was Supposed To Die At This Wedding is book 2 of the Vacation Mysteries series, it can read as a standalone but to get a full feel of some events and character interactions I recommend starting with book 1. It is a witty, funny and addictive mystery. I love this type of escapism read where you just have fun with it! Mack absolutely hits the spot with this one. It doesn't take itself too seriously and honestly I needed that. Perfect to binge this summer by the pool or beach.

Eleonor is such a hilarious character, her inner dialogue is the funniest and had me chuckling so many times. The witty footnotes are back and funnier than ever. I loved the setting and how the author set the mystery up. The investigation is in no way perfect and I think that's what truly makes the charm of this book. The whole process to get to the whodunnit, which I hadn't guessed !

Overall, this was a truly entertaining read. If you're up for a really fun and witty mystery, this is definitely the series for you. It'll keep you laughing the whole way through while still trying to figure out who the killer is.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillanaudio, @minotaurbooks & @catherinemack for my gifted ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

To fully enjoy this lively mystery, start with Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies (The Vacation Mysteries, #1). Catherine Mack builds on the world and characters from the first book, and much of the humor, tension, and emotional payoff relies on that foundation.

The audiobook is the best way to experience both the original and this sequel. The main character has a lot of internal dialogue, and the narrator masterfully shifts tone to distinguish between inner thoughts and spoken words. This adds clarity, personality, and a layer of humor that really elevates the listening experience.

What really shines is the banter and chemistry among the large cast of characters. The drama—between family, friends, and coworkers—secrets, and clever quips keep the pace brisk and the mood engaging. Despite the murder mystery at the center, the story maintains a fun, snappy tone that makes it a fast and enjoyable read (or listen).

Highly recommended for fans of witty, fast-paced mysteries with smart female leads and ensemble casts that feel like real people you’d love (or love to side-eye) at a wedding.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. This is my honest review.

Eleanor Dash is back for another crazy adventure! After closing production on the movie based on her best-selling book, the cast and crew head to the stars' Emma Wood and Fred Winters' secret wedding! With death threats arriving, her ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend in attendance, and all sorts of personality drama, will Eleanor be able to save the day?

I hadn't read the first installment in The Vacation Mysteries, so it took me a little while to get connected to the story, but overall, it was good. You do not need to have read it, but it would help to understand some of the background of the main characters. It's a funny, cozy mystery, but I felt there were a few too many misdirects and asides (footnotes in the physical copy) to push it into greatness.

Advanced Listening copy provided by Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.